Indian classical instruments

The Indian Classical Music (Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet) is full of different types of musical instruments such as: Taanpura, Sitar, Harmonium, Violin, Sarangi, Esraj, Sarod, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Basuri (Flute), etc. Some of them are recently adopted from different countries such as Harmonium, Violin, coronet, etc.

We can classify these musical instrument into two categories.
1. Instrument for producing melodius notes or swar such as Sitar, Violin, Veena, Harmonium, Sarangi, Basuri etc.
2. Instrument for producing Tala (beats) such as Tabla, Pakhawaj, Manjeera, Dholak, Mridang, etc.

Taanpura

The most important musical instrument in indian classical for providing the atmosphere for singing and playing instrument is the Taanpura. It is also called as Tambura. It is said that it was originated from a Gandharva (Subtle beings in Indian Mythology) named Tambaru. It is the finest swar producing instrument ever discovered and therefore is respected as a Divine Instrument.

Different parts of a Taanpura

Tumba: Tumba is the big round part of the Taanpura which is made from pumpkin.

Tabli: The Tabli is the part made of thin wood to cover the Tumba on which the Ghurach (bridge) is placed.

Ghurach: Ghurach is the bridge on which the strings are placed. It is made up of wood and bone.

Keel or Langot: The nail placed on the Tumba to tie the string.

Dand: Dand is the longest wooden part of the Taanpura. It is empty from inside.

Gulu: The part which joins the Tumba and Dand is called Gulu.

Ati and Taargahan: There are two narrow bridges made up of bone near the Khuti. The bridge through which the string passes is called as Taargahan and the the bridge on which the string pass is called Ati.

Khuti: There are four Khuti at the top of the Taanpura for adjusting the tune of a Taanpura by loosening or tightening them.

Sira: The wooden part which has the four khuti.

Manka: There are 4 mankas. These are the round objects (beads) made up of Elephant tusk, bone or glass. These help to fine tune the Taapura.

Taar: There are 4 Taar in the Taanpura. Three are made up of aluminum or bronze and one is made up of steel. These for taar (strings) are tied to the Langot and the Keel.

Soot ka Dhaga: It is a silk thread which is placed under the strings on the Ghurach (bridge). These are responsible for the long vibration.

Jawari kholna: The process of increasing the vibration to produce the long duration sounds in Taanpura or sitar is called Jawari Kholna.

How to play Taanpura:

Sitting posture:

Playing Taanpura: First string which is Pa (Pancham) is played by middle finger and the rest strings are played by index finger.

How to tune Tanpura: The first String is called the Pancham String. It is Tuned in the Pancham of  Mandra Saptak (note Pa of Low Octave). For the ragas where the Pancham (Pa) is forbidden, it is tuned in madhyam of lower octave (ma). The middle two strings are tuned in Shadaj (Sa). The fourth string is tuned in the Shadaj (sa) of the Mandra Saptak (lower octave) is made up of thick steel and is known as Kharaj ka taar (String of Kharaj). 

YouTube link: Taanpura